The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-10-29

IN. w hen tncy reacn Jne cellar they take
seats on the benches, and are requested to
wait till the hall is filled. Little by little
, the audience comes in. Eight ten, twelve,
spurred on by curiosity, come down. And,
overhead on the quay, the high-sounding
phrases continue. Not even the shadow of
policeman is to be seen. There is a god
watching over jokers. This god, with the
drunkard's and everybody else's, makes
three Five minutes later the hall is nearly
full Twenty boobies have allowed them
selves to be taken in. The cash is counted
and the twenty francs are there. That is
all that is needed
A sign is made to the three who had re-
manned below with the audience. They
come up Slowly and carefully the doors
are closed. A new paddock is put on, the
key is turned and good-by all. We were
soon after on our way 20 Chatou, Bougival
or Meudon, l no longer recollect which of
the three places.
"a quarter of an hour later people pass
ing along the Quay du Cont would halt,
mystitied by strange noises. At three
steps from them they heard the rumbling
of voices which seemed to issue from the
bowels of the earth, aviolent, though some
what deadened, noise, combined with the
shrill screams of despair. Then, all of
sudden, it was like the rolling of an i'm
mense drum; the hubbub made by twenty
maddened fists beating against bronze
door. MN What in the deuce did it mean?
"a crowd gathered; they began looking
about and soon found out the cause. The
services of a locksmith were required to
pick the lock, which was a pretty strong
one. The door was violently pushed open,
and human stream shot out of the ground
Just like the water sprining from an arte-
sian we'll With furious gesticulations and
eyes popping out OF their heads, the prison
ers hurried away, raising their arms to
heaven and calling upon an avenging police
''The police was already there, coming
out OF the hole, in the shape of pitiful-
looking, discounted, lynx-eyed detective,
who suspecting some thing wrong. had paid
his way in like the rest OF the audience,
Thanks to the victim of professional duty,
the report was ready beforehand. 1t fell
like a bombshell in our studio the next
morning, and came near giving Father
Bertrand an apoplectic stroke.
'NoW, Mr.. Cabasson, what do you say
about that?"
II say that it was pretty rough joke"
"My turn now,'I said Mr.. Robinet of the
Institute II was at Father Labranche's in
the cite His studio was on the third floor.
There was balcony in front Four or five
of us, botherng ourselves to death, were
leaning on the balustrade, when all of
sudden, one exclaimed: AN idear WHAT
Be quick! Hurry upp
"a few words explain the idea. Hurrah
All agreed 1t was adopted
Gan old lay-igure is lying in the corner.
In the twinkling of an eye it is dressed up.
Shirt, collar coat, vest and pantaloons are
Tho oil
world, like a gentleman. A cap is placed
on its head. Now wait there minute, old
man.
Suddenly frightful uproar resounds
throughout the studio. Cries, yells and
shrieks escape through the open windows.
In the street anxious passers-by look up
and ask each other: What is going on up
there! They must be killing each othern
They are killing each other-at least it
seems so. On the balcony seven or eight
demons rush together grab each other by
the throat, scutlle, while such cries as You
scoundrel! you rascal you theft you vii
famous wretch! you shall go over! will
have your hearts blood are heard In
front of the house, across the street, about
hundred persons have gathered, fasci-
mated by tho expectation that something
horrible is about to take place.
Son the balcony the hubbub increases
1t is real butchery.
Gall at once a Cry of anguish escapes
from a hundred throats. Above the bal |
cony one OF the fighters has appeared |
raised in the air by ten furious arms. One
two, and all is over. The unfortunate fell |
low is cast into space! He turns over and
over, and, foe! he falls with a thud on the
pavement below. He does not move. He
IS dead
''Three women in the crowd faint dead
away. Fists are shaken at our windows
You murderers you assassinsr they cry
out. All rush to to the dead body and lift |
up our dummy, whose nose is flattened, but |
which is not otherwise injured by its fall"
sold Cabasson, twas |, | who am speak |
ing to you now, that cast the dummy over
the gallGryw
"Well, by thunder! you should have been
sent to the galleysr' Then. changing his
tone, Cabasson suddenly burst into laugh |
and said; "Well, boys! after all think
have done even worse than that!"
80, pshaw"
eyes, indeed! Only if you would like to
hear the story just wait few minutes.
must go back and scold those youngsters |
Here are cigars and there is rum; help
yourselves. l will be back shortly" =
"Wellr" exclaimed Messrs. Boudiner and
Robinet, when their colleague, Cabasson,
returned, did you display your eloquence9"
"Yes, indeed" replied Cabasson, the
painter, ''and to some effect, assure you,
especially when told them that at thevery
next bad break would dismiss the whole
gang"
Suppose you giveus the story now"
"What story? OIL had forgotten. Well
l shall keep my promise" And, making
himself comfortable between the arms Of
an easy chair. Cabasson began as follows:
"'Tis not one, but ten stories, if not
more that l could tell you if l wished To-
Yes, dear friends, it lacked but little for
me and four or five other scamps like my
self to have on our consciences the deaths
of two worthy old women"
''The dickens! Tell US all about it'll"
swell, here goes. At the time 1 was in a
studio on the fourth floor. just below us,
on the third story, two old maids had fixed
their dwelling. With them we had crow
to pick on account of a number of COM
plants they had made against us, inform
ing the landlord that we disturbed them az
least thirty times a day by ringing their
door-bell
zone afternoon it so happened that the
most profound silence prevailed throughout
the studio, when one of the crowd who was
at work near the firenlace ayclaimed